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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Obesity and weight control

COVID-19 Working Paper: Obesity Prevalence Among U.S. Adult Subpopulations During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Explores obesity disparities among adults before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the first year of the pandemic. Uses data from the 2011-2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to estimate changes in obesity rates and compares rates across demographic and socioeconomic subgroups, including urban-rural status, Census region, age group, race and ethnicity, and more.
Author(s): Mariah D. Ehmke, Brandon J. Restrepo
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Recruitment and Reach in a School-Based Pediatric Obesity Intervention Trial in Rural Areas
Compares participation and reach of opt-in and screen-first recruitment methods for a pediatric obesity treatment trial in rural Kansas schools. Includes an overview of the program's school recruitment, personnel onboarding, and participant recruitment processes. Discusses strategies for implementing similar school-based research and interventions.
Author(s): Bethany Forseth, Brittany Lancaster, Megan Olalde, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1181757
Date: 06/2023
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North Carolina Office of Rural Health Key Performance Measures Reported by Program
Offers statistics for performance measures or output for fiscal year 2023. Features breakdowns including total patient encounters and telemedicine encounters; statistics on controlled diabetes, hypertension, and early pre-natal care; and screening for tobacco use, depression, and obesity.
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
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Self-Assessed Health Status and Obesity Vulnerability in Rural Louisiana: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Examines the self-assessed health of rural residents in Louisiana utilizing the obesity vulnerability index, which factors in sex, race, education, caregiver status, exercise, and grocery store choice as potential risk factors for obesity. Provides 2021 data of residents from 3 rural counties, with obesity vulnerability index indicators broken down by fair, good, or excellent health status.
Author(s): Santosh Pathak, Hua Wang, Katherine Seals, Naveen C. Adusumilli, Denise Holston
Citation: PLoS One, 18(6)
Date: 06/2023
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Addressing Food Insecurity in Rural Tennessee
A podcast that discusses local hospitals in rural Hardeman County, Tennessee that collaborated to improve access to healthy food for citizens who were experiencing food insecurity and a lack of transportation to grocery stores. Includes information on a community health needs assessment, data exploration, obesity rates, use of grant funds to address health and wellness, and more.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, John Supplitt, Ruby Kirby
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Madison Medical Center Hospital Spotlight
Discusses how the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program helped Madison Medical Center use health outcome data and community partnerships to launch an initiative to address high obesity rates. Transcript available under description.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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The Weight of Our Children: New Mexico Childhood Obesity 2022 Update
Provides an overview of childhood obesity in New Mexico from 2010-2022, including prevalence by grade level, sex, and race/ethnicity. Provides strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and a state map of Healthy Kids Healthy Communities (HKHC) counties.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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The Mental Health, Substance Use, Physical Health, and Mental Health Treatment Need of Community Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in Hawai'i
Results of a study detailing the health-related needs of Hawai'i's unhoused people, most of whom live in rural areas. Features statistics on self-reported rates of depression and anxiety, illicit substance use, alcohol use, smoking, obesity, and overall physical health.
Author(s): Andrew M. Subica, Daryl S. Sampaga, Jana Ortiz-Misiaszek, Tammy K. K. Martin, Scott K. Okamoto
Citation: Community Mental Health Journal, 59, 1021–1026
Date: 03/2023
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Obesity Prevention and Treatment in Rural America Through Changes in Diet and Food Availability
Policy position paper regarding obesity prevention and treatment through rural-specific programming and equitable coverage. Offers policy recommendations to address obesity among rural populations.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Factors Impacting Implementation of Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies in Rural Schools
Examines school policies and implementation related to nutrition and physical activity (PA) to understand the disproportionate rates of obesity in rural Latino children. Analyzes perceptions of policies and barriers from 20 interviews with stakeholders in Lower Yakima Valley of Eastern Washington State K-12 school districts. Discusses themes such as knowledge of school PA and nutrition policies as well as barriers and facilitators to policy implementation.
Author(s): Caryn Ausenhus, Joshua M. Gold, Cynthia K. Perry, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 23, 308
Date: 02/2023
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